The men whose heads were white with age, and their faces furrowed with care, who were eagerly grasping the treasures within the crown, were the aged who have but a few years before them. Yet they were eager to secure their earthly treasures. The nearer they came to the grave, the more anxious they were to cling to them. Their own relatives were not benefited. The members of their own families were permitted to labor beyond their strength to save a little money. They did not use it for others' good, or for their own. It was enough for them to know that they had it. When their duty to the poor, and the wants of God's cause are presented before them, they are sorrowful. They would gladly accept the gift of everlasting life, but are not willing that it should cost them any thing. The conditions are too hard. But Abraham would not withhold his only son. He could sacrifice this child of promise to obey God more easily than many would sacrifice some of their earthly possessions.

De mennesker hvis hoveder var hvide med alderen, og deres ansigter var rynkede af bekymringer, som ivrigt greb efter rigdommene enden for kronen, var ældre som kun er nogle få år foran dem. Alligevel var de ivrige efter at få deres jordiske rigdomme. Jo nærmere de kommer til graven, des mere ivrige var de for at klynge sig til dem. Deres egne slægtninge blev ikke hjulpet. Medlemmer i deres egne familier fik lov at arbejde over evne for at tjene lidt penge. De brugte dem ikke for andres skyld, eller for deres egen. Det var nok for dem at vide at de havde dem. Når de har forpligtelser over for fattige, og behovene i Guds sag præsenteres for dem, bliver de kede af det. Med glæde ville de acceptere det evige livs gave, men er ikke villige da det vil koste dem noget. Betingelserne er for hårde. Men ville ikke holde sin egen tilbage. Han kunne ofre dette pagtens barn, for at adlyde Gud bedre, end mange ville ofre nogle af deres jordiske ejendomme.